Cooperative hunting of Canada geese (Branta canadensis) by gray wolves (Canis lupus) in Northern Quebec

Abstract

Gray Wolves (Cants lupus) are opportunistic predators that feed mainly on ungulates across their range. Incidental to a Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) leg banding program in northern Quebec, I observed what appeared to be a predation attempt by three wolves on a flock of 28 Canada Geese at a time when geese were just regaining their flight capability following their annual remige moult (4 August 2003). Although I was able to observe only a short period of this presumed predation attempt, it seemed apparent from the position of the wolves and geese that this was ambushing behaviour described by other authors with other prey species.